25 MARCH 2026 - "Daily Current Affairs" Updates

GS Paper-3: Economy

⭐ Mutual Credit Guarantee Scheme (MCGS)

⭐ Why in the News

The Government has revised the Mutual Credit Guarantee Scheme (MCGS) to

enhance support for MSME manufacturers and exporters, in line with the Union

Budget 2025–26.

⭐ Objective & Coverage

• Provides a 60% credit guarantee through the National Credit Guarantee Trustee

Company Limited (NCGTC) to Member Lending Institutions.

• Covers loans up to ₹100 crore for eligible MSMEs under the MCGS-MSME

component for machinery and equipment purchase.

⭐ Salient Features

➤Eligibility Criteria

• The borrower must be an MSME with a valid Udyam Registration Number.

• Eligibility has been expanded to include MSMEs in the service sector.

➤Project Cost Requirement

• Minimum share of project cost for machinery and equipment reduced from 75% to

60%.

➤Upfront Contribution

• A 5% upfront contribution is required, now made refundable.

• 1% is refunded annually from the 4th year, subject to satisfactory loan performance.

➤Guarantee Duration

• Credit guarantee is valid for 10 years.

• Earlier, no fixed duration was specified.

➤Applicability Period

• Applicable to loans sanctioned under MCGS-MSME for 4 years.

• Alternatively, valid until a cumulative guarantee limit of ₹7 lakh crore is reached,

whichever is earlier.

GS Paper-3: Internal Security

⭐ Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2026

⭐ Why in the News

The Global Terrorism Index 2026 has been released by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP).

⭐ Nature of the Index

• GTI is an annual report that assesses and quantifies the impact of terrorism worldwide.

⭐ Publishing Organisation

• Published by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), an independent, non-profit think tank headquartered in Sydney.

⭐ Coverage

• Evaluates 163 countries, covering about 99.7% of the global population.

⭐ Methodology

➤ Scoring System

• Each country is assigned a score on a scale of 0 to 10.

• 0 → No impact of terrorism

• 10 → Highest measurable impact

➤ Ranking Mechanism

• A composite score is calculated for each country.

• Countries are ranked to reflect the relative intensity of terrorism impact.

GS Paper-3: Environment / Species in News

⭐ Shaheen Falcon

⭐ Why in the News

A pair of Shaheen falcons has recently been spotted nesting in a multi-storey building

under construction in Kochi.

⭐ Taxonomy & Nature

• The Shaheen falcon is a non-migratory subspecies of the Peregrine falcon.

• Scientific name: Falco peregrinus peregrinator.

⭐ Physical Features

➤ Distinct Characteristics

• Possesses a dark vertical stripe from the eye down the face, giving a stern look.

• Has a strong, muscular body adapted for powerful flight.

• Females are generally larger than males.

⭐ Habitat & Distribution

➤ Habitat

• Commonly found in rocky and hilly regions.

• Prefers cliffs and rock pinnacles for nesting.

➤ Distribution

• Widely distributed across the Indian subcontinent.

• Also recorded in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

⭐ Behaviour & Diet

➤ Food Habits

• Primarily feeds on birds.

• Occasionally preys on small mammals such as bats, rats, rabbits, and voles.

• May also consume insects, reptiles, and rarely fish.

⭐ Hunting Adaptation

• Known for high-speed hunting dives (stoops), reaching speeds of over 300 km/h.

• A streamlined body structure enables exceptional speed and precision, making it a

highly efficient predator.